The Churches. The Disciples of Wesley were the religious __________ of the West. _________ Church was planted in the wlderness by its enthusiastic preachers at an early day. At Stafford it was the first to occupy the field and still maintains its lead. In the early years of the place the people worshiped in a log house near the site of the present handsome church. As time went on and the organization increased in numbers and wealth a better building took the place of the old log structure. This continued in use until two years ago, when it was replaced by the present buildning. The building is a fram 60 x 35 feet and is built in the true proportions required by the rules of architecture. At the north east corner of the building stands a tower that rises above the roof terminating in a gothic spire. The north end is nearly all occupied by a window of stained glass. The windows on the sides are gothic and beautifully proportioned. The outside appearance of the building viewed as a whole, affects one pleasantly. There is nothing in its form to jar on one's notions of proportion. The entrance is through the tower, in which there is a staircase leading to the gallery. This is seated with chairs and a partition dividing it from the main room is so arranged that it can in a few moments be removed, adding the lecture room to the church. The second door to the right leads to the main audience room. Over the altar in this room is a painting of a female figure clinging to a cross. The painting is a copy from a chromeo familiar to almost every person, but it is fairly well executed, and serves to relieve the walls of the blankness so common in churches. the floors are carpeted and the seats are in walnut. The inside appearance of the church is striking. It is a revelation to find so handsome a church in a rural village. there is room to seat about 600 people. Here the congregation meet every Sunday to worship and also to keep alive the Sunday Schools that have from time immemorial been maintained in the Village. The society has a membership of over 100. Having completed the church they are negotiating for the adjoining lot on which to build a parsonage. If they build as artistic a dwelling as they have a church the two will form a notable group that church committees everywhere can study to advantage when intending to build. The Wesleyan Methodists were formerly here in sufficient force to build a church, but in the death of L. CURTIS and others, and the departure of STEEL, it lost its financial support and has fallen into decay. The abolition of slavery having removed the principal cause of difference between it and the M.E. Church, those who adhered to it formerly, find a congenial home with the Methodists. There has always been a considereabe sprinkling of Disciples or Christians in the neighborhood -- the curhch that boasted of the great GARFIELD as one of its members -- the only distinctively religious man, who preached the gospel, that was ever elected President. The society belonging to this church here, in 1872, built a handsome frame building whose spire rises among the oaks in the south part of town. Dr. MASON and others contributed liberally to the erection of this building and for a society small in numbers it is a very creditable monument to their pluck and an ornament to the town. Though not occupying so conspicuous a site as the M.E. Church it does not fail to attract its share of attention as one of the most elegant buildings in the place. It is surrounded by a beautiful grass plot and is the perfect picture of a quiet rural church. Its shaded surroundings invite to a loll on the grass in summer or the rustle of the leaves in "God's First Temple: so near by soothes the mind into a state of dreamy speculation as you sit listlessly by the open window and absorb the preaching within along with the sermon always preaching without. At present this congregation is in charge of Rev. O.W. THOMPSON, of Quaker City. He preaches to the congregation once in four weeks and is spoken of as a very able man. The Schools. From the earlist days of the village special interest has been taken in the schools. The real, always sustained excellence of them, dates however, from the building of the frame school house in the grove east of town in 1854. This was more than an average school house for its day. It contained two rooms of unequal size, both well furnished. In these were taught the higher mathematics and the dead languages at a date when such a thing was unheard of in the rural districts. Public funds were not sufficient to run the schools more than a few months each year. The time was pieced out with subscription schools, laterly called "normal schools, " for no good reason I think. The high standard set up then has never lowered. A short study of the list of teachers who have been employed since 1854 shows the character of the talent it has been the constant policy to employ. First on the list is A. J. SUTTON, who, at the time he was employed stood among the foremost educators of the county. Then came W. WHEELER, who for many years maintained high standing as a progressive scholarly teacher. He still gives his time to literary pursuits in his Kansas home. Next came L.K. EVANS, up to this time perhaps the ripest scholar who had taught here. He not only held up the standard established but took advanced ground. After leaving Stafford he was for many years a successful journalist. Then came Milton WELLS who was here till 1861. He was school examiner of the county and has since been prominent in church and politics in West Va. Capt. Thomas WILSON was principal of the schools 1865-1867. He is so well known as to only need mention. Rev. Geo. M. WILSON, now of Summerfield, succeeded him. He was in turn followed in 1873 by Rev. T.C. RYAN. Then came Enoch MARTIN, 1875 and 1876. Then Jas. A. MARSHAL, W.P. MASON, and then Marshal again who was followed by John ARCHER in 1878. Rev. N. HINES who now has charge of the Richmond Institute, Richmond, Va., succeeded Archer. HINES has established a wide reputation in his present place. A.W. GRIZZEL who now runs an educational institution of some repute in Pattersonville, Iowa, followed HINES in charge of the the schools. The principal of the schools at present is T. E. WILSON, son of Capt. Thomas WILSON. He is the fourth generation from Wm. WILSON, who settled here in 1818. He was educated here and at Mt. Union College and by his skill, scholarship and industry, steadily supports the dignity of his position. Space will not admit of a longer review of these men. It is sufficient to say that with scarecely an exception they were all eminent as scholars and teachers. To such men as these has been committed the building up of Stafford schools, always jealously guarded by the people. The result is flattering, both in the output of well trained scholars and the well earned reputation of the schools for excellence. The present school-house is larger than is really necessary to accomodate the children of the district. The four airy rooms give ample room for the normal schools that are annually taught in their pristine vigor. These schools furnish at a small cost excellent educational facilities to the youth of the neighborhood. Part #4 Next